Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-06-09
rnr Use ,E GYPSUM
It's Consumption DiminIahed by Conflict
Ing Theories About it's Action.


n. Consumption DiminIshed by Conn,ct'
Ing Theories About Ita Action.
Gypsum was introduced into thi,
country for fertilizlng purposes by
Benjamin Franklin, who learned Il,
value in France. He sowed some on ,
portion of clover-deld near Philadel
phia, and its effects were so noticeabl,
as TO attract great attention. Although
the country was poor and the soil hat
not begun TO le impoverished by fire.
quent croppisgs, large quantities oi
gyTsazs-were imported from Franc.
and applied to land. Il was afterwart
discovered in Nova Scotia, and sup
plies were obtained from there. Sub
sequently It was found in New York
and Michigan in large quantities, and
its use became quite general in parts o'
the country whore potatoes and clover
were leading crops. Farmers put q
handful in hill of potatoes when they
dropped the seed. or placed Il about the
tops when they first appeared above
ground, and found that it increased the
yield. They sowed II on clover-feld,
with equally good results.
While farmers were entirely satisfied
with the results obtained by the use o
gypsum, and did not weary themsclvc,
about the philosophy Of its action, al
went well, and the use Of the fertilizer
was very general. Soon. however, ag
ricultural chemists commenced 10 en-
Tighten farmers about its mode oi &C
ton, and then the trouble began in
earnest. One chemist stated that gyp.
sum furnished both lime and sulphur
for the use OF plants, and that they en-
tered directly into their composition
Another disputed this, and showed by
carefully-conducted experiments thai
clover raised ON what is called ''plast
cred land" contained no more lime oi
sulphur than that produced on LAND
that had received no dressing or gyp
sum. A third chemist now brought
out new theory, which was that gyp
sum absorbed ammonia from the at
mosphere and handed il over TO plants,
thus contributing largely to theil
growth at n merely nominal expense
One dressing Of gypsum, which would
remain and "do business" for years,
was capable Of collecting. storing ant
delivering ammonia to clover and 9th
er plants, without diminishing its stock
in trade to the smallest extent Thi,
theory, however, was apparently dis
proved by fourth chemist, who
passed a current Of ammonia over
gypsum, and fou nd that it did not alb
sorb any Of IL.
Then the theory that gypsum ab.
sorbed moisture from the atmosphere
and soil during a wet time, and gave II
of for the use Of plants when the air
and grounl were dry was proclaimed.
This was disposed of in the same way
the theory of absorbing ammonia was,
by showing that dry gypsum did not
scnibly increase in weight by being
exposed to very moist atmosphere.
The latest thcoEy in regard to the &C.
tion Of this substance is that 1t set,
free potash which has been absorbed
and fixed 10 the soil. This theory /.
an ingenious one, and has the merit OF
not being disproved TO date. 1t may
be, and quite likely will be. the &C.
eepted theory Of all agricultural chem.
lists at no very distant day. Many
who accepted this theory in regard tc
the general action of gypsum also be.
lieve that it does absorb ammonia
when it has been completely dissolved
by water, Of which large amount is
required. The general belief of farmers
who are not possessed Of much scien-
tific knowledge is that while gypsum /,
highly beneficial TO the field TO which II
is applied. it actually Injuries those in
tae vicinity by appropriating the am.
monia that would otherwise serve &c
enrich them. There is no reason, how.
ever, for believing that such is the case.
Il is generally believed that the pro.
mitigating. defending and denying the
various theories about the way gypsum
acts have had much to do in prevent.
ing its general use. II such is the case
it only shows that many persons care
more for theory thnn for fact. II tn,
application Of land-plaster increases
the yield Of potatoes, clover and 9th I
crops, its uses should be continued
whether any one knows for certainty
how it acts. We should ''never mind
the why aud wherefore but onl,
judge Of the results it produces. II a
dollars worth of land-plaster will pro-
duce ten dollars worth Of crops, it il
an economical fertilizer to buy and 10
use freely. That II is capricious that
is, that il does not affect al soils in the
same way-should not slnnd in tho
way Of experimenting with il. II has
added much to gains of farmers in
some parts Of the country, and it il,
likely that it would be highly benc-
fetal to many bodies Of land 10 which
II has never been applied. 1t costs but
little to make an experiment with Il,
for it is by far the cheares, Of any OF
the commercial fertilizers Ii is O
cleanly substance to handle, and n
hundred pounds is the usual amount
applied to an acre Of clover land. .-
Chicago Times.
Poor Qualify of MIX.